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Top 5 Playstation 4 games of 2017

2017 brought multiple gaming options for consoles across the board.

Whether it’s nostalgia, pop culture references, innovation, or ingenuity, there was something for everyone in the past year.

In 2017, I was lucky enough to get the Playstation 4 that I’ve wanted for a long time as a gift and have made the most out of it. While reflecting on all of the games that I’ve played, I made a list of my favorites that were released in the past year.

Tim’s top 5 games of 2017

An in-game comparison between the original Crash Bandicoot game, left, and the remaster of the first game in the N. Sane Trilogy. (Crash Bandicoot/Facebook)

1. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

Celebrating over 20 years of the iconic character that helped put the original Playstation on the map, Vicarious Visions remastered the first three Crash Bandicoot games — Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped — with improved graphics and a remixed soundtrack.

While staying faithful to the original series, the developers were able to provide a fresh spin to the games playing as Crash Bandicoot (or as his sister Coco Bandicoot, a first for the original game and sequel) taking on the evil Dr. Neo Cortex and preventing him from taking over the world.

A trilogy full of collectibles, the N. Sane Trilogy lives up to the name as it features a plethora of obstacles that feel satisfying to overcome and boss battles that require strategy to win.

In a year full of sequels and reboots, this one stands above the rest. It is the perfect game for audiences young and old.

2. Horizon Zero Dawn

After reading countless reviews raving over this game, I had to make it a point to check this one out. My brother described it as “the one with the robot dinosaurs,” but it is so much more than that. Heralded by many sites as the best game of the year, this game follows female outcast Aloy in a world overrun by machines. Seeking to discover the identity of her mother along the way, she also tries to overcome evil forces using an array of weapons as well as stealth.

Horizon Zero Dawn is one of many games that have set the bar for future open world games.

3. Assassin’s Creed Origins

The Assassin’s Creed series has followed the same formula for a decade: A modern day protagonist enters a machine that allows them to relive the memories of a figure in a set period throughout history. It’s a formula that has worked time after time.

With more of an open world setting, Origins follows male protagonist Bayek of Siwa as he journeys through ancient Egypt to get vengeance on the group that killed his young son. Along the way, he encounters historic figures such as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar in a fictionalized retelling of major events throughout history.

I lost many hours of sleep exploring every inch of ancient Egypt.

4. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

While the other games on this list are more family-friendly, this hit is targeted more for the adult demographic. Playing as an original protagonist, your goal in this game is to find a missing cat and collect a $100 reward to help fund a superhero franchise. Of course, in the world of South Park, things are never that simple. Along the way, a bigger plot is uncovered, leading rival factions to team up in order to help rid the quiet mountain town of evil.

This role-playing game is similar to Pokemon with the fighting system, but at the same time stays true to the series and its dark humor. Many characters from the show make appearances, and creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker worked with developers to make Fractured But Whole like one long episode of South Park.

5. The Walking Dead: The New Frontier

The third game in a series by Telltale Games, the overall experience changes based on decisions the player makes. Much like in the show, the protagonist faces many difficult choices. Is it better to be cold and calculated for a better chance of survival? Or does compromising one’s morals cause too much of a dilemma?

Choices from the previous games automatically are transferred into this chapter. Of course, new players can start off with a randomized set of choices from previous installments.

The protagonist changes between newcomer Javier and fan favorite Clementine (the only character that is in all three games regardless of players’ choices). There are many different scenarios that come from decisions that are made and even the most insignificant choice can change the course of the game.

This game is a must for all fans of “The Walking Dead” television show. A collection featuring all the chapters so far has been released for both the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, giving gamers a chance to catch up before the final chapter of the video game series is released this year.

Tim Simko is always looking for new games to play. Follow and tweet him to send suggestions for video games to try out and review: @TimmySimko.